Security Minister Renews Call for Church to Help

Minister of National Security, Hon. Peter Bunting, has renewed his call for churches and other groups to work with the Ministry and the Police to prevent criminal activities.

Mr. Bunting, who was addressing a heritage awareness church and business leaders breakfast Thursday, March 6, at the Arian’s Restaurant, in St. Catherine, noted that after a recent march by the police, church leaders and residents of the Dunkirk area of East Kingston, several high powered weapons were recovered.

“Within four days of that peace march, the leadership was provided by the church, and an AK 47, an MI6 rifle, a pistol, and another gun were recovered by the police, because of the work of the community and the impact that the peace march had,” the Minister said.

“If we could get all the churches to take on violence prevention as an issue, and work in the communities that they serve… what a tremendous impact that would make, and what a transformation,” he added.

For his part, Chairman of the Spanish Town Development Area Committee, Bishop Dr. Rowan Edwards, said the churches in Spanish Town support the Minister’s call.

“You made the call and you said you want divine intervention. I think that is the best call we have ever heard from any Minister in Parliament, and we are here to back you. We want to send the message to all the gangs, to all the careless individuals, who are bent on creating mayhem in the city. We don’t want them in the community,” he emphasized.

“Why should we hand over our community to a few men and hide, while they continue to be on the front with their bullets and guns? We will not continue to allow that. We have a hardworking Mayor, who is pushing this town, with all the members behind him, coming with new ideas on how we can transform this community,” the Bishop told the audience.

Meanwhile, President of the St. Catherine Chamber of Commerce, Dennis Robothom, noted that all the major stakeholders have united to improve the tourism offering in the town.

“We are at the pinnacle of unity and everything is lined up. Twenty four tour guides have been trained, and four of them are from the police. This shows you the integration of what we are about to deliver for Jamaica. We met many challenges that could deter us from our goals, but our Mayor (Norman Scott) has stood with us,” the President said.

The breakfast was organized by the Spanish Town Development Area Committee.